Physics
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
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- Physics
Glass beads cluster as they flow
High-speed camera catches liquidlike behavior in a stream of granular material.
- Physics
Martian lightning
The Red Planet’s dust devils charge up particles, providing first direct evidence of this type of electrical discharge on Mars.
- Physics
Microswimmers make a splash
Researchers study secrets of microbes' locomotion and how to mimic that movement.
- Computing
Asia: One reason America can’t afford to jettison good teachers
Asia appears to prize science and tech education far more than America does, and the result may be a waning of the West's economic and entrepreneurial dominance.
- Tech
Proposed quantum motor runs with a kick
Scientists suggest a way to put ultracold atoms to work.
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- Chemistry
Laser makes uphill battle easier
Researchers have used a femtosecond laser to etch tiny channels into metal plates, prompting liquid to flow uphill.
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- Physics
Friction gives snakes a smooth slither
Combination of friction and push propels snakes forward on flat surfaces.
- Physics
Mechanical systems all tangled up
Researchers link the motion of two ion pairs through “spooky action at a distance.”
- Chemistry
Beryllium-beryllium bond illuminated
Scientists study the partnership between two atoms of beryllium, which chemical theory says shouldn’t exist.
